An interview of Arnold Newman conducted 1971 July 17-Aug. 23, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art.

Newman speaks of his early life in New York, Atlantic City, and Miami; learning the basics of photography as an apprentice to Litt Brothers; his West Palm Beach studio and his exhibition at A.D. Gallery in New York. He recalls being discovered by the Museum of Modern Art and Stieglitz and his first portraits of artists. Newman comments on influences on his work; his techniques and equipment and his difficulties with color photography. He discusses commissions; judging photographic talent; LIFE, "Holiday," and "Harper's" assignments and commercial photography. Newman relates anecdotes about some of the artists he photographed and talks about the formation of his own primitive art collection. He reminisces about Ben Rose, Chaim Gross, Jacob Epstein, Ben Shahn, and Alexey Brodovitch.

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Arnold Newman, 1971 July 17-Aug. 23. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Use Note:

Authorization to publish, quote or reproduce must be obtained from: Arnold Newman, Arnold Newman Studios, Inc., 39 West 67th Street, New York, New York 10023.

Biography Note:

Arnold Newman (1918-2006) was a photographer by New York, N.Y.

Provenance:

These interviews are part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.